Calculated framing and folding rule



D. J. BUTLER CALCULATED FRAMING AND. FOLDING RULE Aug. 26, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1951 FIG. 2a

TOP (117' INVENTOR DAVID J. BUTLER B3 W :12am.

Aug. 26, 1952 D. J. BUTLER 2,607,995

CALCULATED FRAMING AND FOLDING RULE Filed Feb. 15, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 27UP PZA rz FIG 3 a Jncxlw'rsasg" sm: curs INVENTOR DAVID J. BUTLER BY tATTO EY Aug. 26, 1952 D. J. BUTLER 2,607,995

CALCULATED FRAMING AND FOLDING RULE Filed Feb. 13. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5I /5 W INVENTOR 7 DAVID J. BUTLER BY d mn Aug. 26, 1952 D. J. BUTLERCALCULATED FRAMING AND FOLDING RULE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 13, 1951MAJ m 2.

40 go: 18A

Illl'l o. om

Will/1m i Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ApplicationFebruary 13, 1951 Serial No. 210,719

- 4 Claims. (01.33 495) My invention relates broadly to folding rulesand more particularly to a construction and arrangement of a foldingrule which is provided with graduations thereon for quickly markingrafters, beams, risers, treads, etc. for facilitating cutting withminimum expenditure of time.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction ofprecalculated foldable rule which may be conveniently carried bycarpenters on a building job and folded to a triangular position fromavailable specifications on the rise per foot required in any buildingcondition to quickly provide means for marking rafters, beams, risers,treads, etc. for facilitating cutting, eliminating the need for makingcalculations on each building job.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction offoldable rule calibrated for the'marking of rafters, beams, risers,treads, etc. to enable the proper angular cuts to be made therein fromavailable specifications with respect to the overall rise per footnecessary in any building construction wherein the foldable sections ofthe rule are provided with perforations and coacting keying members formaintaining the sections of the foldable rule in selected angularpositions determined by the rise per foot required for the rafters,beams, risers, treads, etc. in a building structure for enablingmarkings to be quickly made and the rafters, beams,risers, treads, etc.out without the expenditure of time in calculating the angularity ofsuch cuts on the building job.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a foldable rule inwhich the sections thereof niay be interlocked in angular positionsdetermined by the angular requirements for the cuts of rafters, beams,risers, treads, etc. according to graduations thereon precalculatedaccording to specifications based on requirements in rise per foot in abuilding structure in which the sections of the rule are provided withdispla-ceable slide members having angularly latchable guides thereondisplaceable from a linear position with respect to the sections of therule to positions normal thereto and serving as means for aligning thesections of the rule with the peripheriesof the rafters, beams, risers,treads, etc. being marked. i l

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction offoldable rule in which the sections of the rule carry calibrationsthereon determinative of the angularity required for marking' rafters,beams, risers, treads, etc. to meet various specification requirementswith regard to rise per foot in any building structure and wherein thesections of the rule are conjointly provided withk-eying pintles andcoacting recesses in the sections of the rule together with slidableguides thereon, each of which include guide members latchable inpositions either normal to the plane of the sections of the rule orcoplanar therewith for facilitating mounting of the rule in a selectedtriangular lay-out upon the rafters, beams, risers, treads, etc. to bemarked.

Other and further objects of my invention are to provide a foldablecarpenters rule having calibrations thereon and associated pocketrecesses and coacting keying pintles and adjustable angularlydisplaceable guides for aligning the rule with the sections thereofmaintained in selected angular relationship according to thecalibrations thereon for facilitating the marking of rafters, beams,risers, treads, etc. as set forthmore fully in the specificationhereinafter following by reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the foldable rule constructedinaccordance with my invention and shown in folded position; Fig. 2shows the applioation of the rule of my invention for the markings ofcommon rafters, the view showing the position of the sections of therule for marking both the top and bottom cuts for a common rafterwhichmust meet conditions in a building construction for a six inch riseper foot; Fig. 2a is a fragmentary view of a common rafter which hasbeen marked at both thetop and bottom for cutting without expenditure ofcalculation time on the building job; Fig. 3 shows the application ofthe foldable rule of my invention for marking the hip cut in the rafter;Fig. 3a is a, view illustrating an installation of a rafter cut at boththe top and bottom and at the hip accordingto the markings which havebeen quickly made by use of the rule of my invention; Fig. 4 is a viewshowing the application of the foldable rule of my invention for markinga jack rafter side out; Fig. 5; shows the application of thefoldablerule of my invention for laying out stringers for stairways orsteps; Fig. 6 shows the application of the foldable rule of my inventionfor laying out and marking thereof.

enabling the rule to be folded in the required angular relationship forforming the marking required for the rafters in various buildingconstruction; Fig. 8 illustrates sections of the foldable rule whichcarry the adjustable guidesthereon with the angularly movable guide pinswhich are shiftable to positions either at right angles to the plane ofthe rule or coplanar with the associated section thereof; Fig. 9 is aview illustrating the calibrations which I apply to the sections of asix foot foldable rule for carrying out the rapid markings of rafters,beams, risers, treads, etc.

according to my invention; Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view online l0i ll of Fig. 9 and showingthe keying member provided on eachextremity of the end sections of the rule; Fig. 11 is an en'- largedview of the adjustable guide carried by certain of the sections of thefoldable rulewith the guide pin illustrated in coplanar alignment withthe section of the rule; Fig. 12 is an end View of 'the'adjustableguide-which is applied to the foldable rule and illustrating the guidepin in full line in coplanar alignment with'the section of the rule andindotted line when moved toa position normal to the plane of thesection" of the rule; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view of the adjustableguide broken away to show the means for mounting the guide pinin aposition in which the guide pin may be latched selectively in coplanaralignment with the section of the foldable rule or hip-and valleyrafters, beams, risers, treads, etc;

to meet specifications generally given on the basis of rise per foot.-The foldable rule of my invention is providedwith graduations which havebeen precalcul'ated" for enabling markings to be made for the properframing of a'building structure. The foldable rule of my invention is-atwo-wayrule, one side-of which is provide'cl with calculated markingsfor laying out cutsfor roof rafters, beams, risers, treads, etc. Theother side of the rule-has a six foot measurement graduatiori' thereonaccompanied by recesses or permratiijnsdesignated according to angulardegrees. The rule as calculatedon both sides is readily useable bycarpenters unable to read a conventional framing square. Because therule ofm'y invention containsprecalculated graduations, the laying outand marking ofrafters, beams, risers, treads etc. is rendered easier,faster and'simpler than by use of any previous form of scale of which Ihave knowledge. The foldable'rule of my invention calibrated ashereinafter more fully explained has been found highly accurate andconvenient in use since angularly movable guides carried by adyustableguides enable the rule-to be maintained inposition against the rafters,beams, risers, treads,- etc. to permit an accurate withless chance oferror than has heretofore been encounteredwhen using a conventional Thefoldable construction offraming square as the cutting lines may bemarked on either of the two equal sides of the triangle which is formedby folding the rule. When using a conventional framing square, oneparticular side must be used in making a marking cut. Moreover thelength or short point of the out can be marked on either edge of therafter without turning it or moving it in different positions as is thecase in using a conventional frame s'quare. l

The calibrations on tlie'foldable rule of my invention show the lengthsof the rafters, beams, risers, treads, etc. on the respective ends ofthe rule thus eliminatingconfusion with other markings on the scales.The rule when folded for the lay-out of risers and treads according tomy invention can; be held on the exact riser and tread by guide meanswhich may be adjusted to positions adjacent selected calibrations on thescale, thus eliminating the trouble and inconvenience of applying therule on the same graduations' each time the ruleis moved. An angle ofany degree can be determinedor se lected for marking on the job in justa few sec.- onds of time. i'

The foldable rule of my invention employs two independent sets ofmarkings in addition to the'conventional measuring, scale; that is,markings for common and jack rafters which are designated in black. For,marking common and jack rafters, the rule is folded at the end carryingthe black calibrations.v The markings for hip and valley rafters aredesignated in red.

For marking hip and valley rafters the endof the rule carrying the redcalibrations is folded to a position in which markings may be applieddirectly to the rafters for insuring the correct angular cuts. In theapplication of the folding rule for the backing of a hip rafter the ruleis folded according tothespecified rise on the bottom out and the depthof the equal angle will give the correct amount to be cutoff of theplate cut; 7 v V Referring particularly to Fig. 1 the calculated framingand folding rule of my invention is shown in perspective as comprisingasix foot folding scale including foldable sections foldable intoacompact length convenient for carrying onto the job. Certain of thefolded sections which I have designated at I and 2 are provided withadjustable slidesfi; and 4. These adjustable slides are illustrated moreclearly in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 and comprise metallic transverselyextending'strip members which I have designat'ed at 5 embracing thescale I and slidable linearly thereof. Eachstrip member 5 is apertured'at. one side thereof as designated at 6; in Fig. 1'3 for the passage ofa rod member I which carries on one end thereof a flat shoe 8. which isfrictionally forced againstthe edge of the scale I" by compression coilspring 9 concentrically disposed around rod member 1 and confined"length" approximately seen to four times .the

5 thickness of the scale with which the transversely extending stripmember 5 is associated. The length of the pintle II as describedis's'uch that the pintle may readily project beyond the surface of thebeam or rafter to which the scale is applied and provide engaging meanswith the edge of the beam or rafter for. maintaining the scale inposition with respect-thereto while effecting measurements andmarkings'as will be hereinafter more fully explained. Thesemicylindrical recesses in, the projection l are represented at [4 andi extending on axes at right angles to each other and forming latchingpockets in which the pintle vII maybej seated under action ofcompression coil spring In Figs. ll, 12'and 13 I have 'shown'the' pintlell seatedin semi-cyIindric'alrecesS in alignment with" the edge of scaleI ,and' in 12 [have shown in dotted line position H the location of thepintle when "it is desired to maintain the scale 'I in' a positionadjacent the edge of a beam or rafter. By grasping the pintle II anddrawing it outwardly against the force of compression coil spring 9 to aposition clearing the semi-cylindrical recess I5, the pintle H maybeoriented to the dotted line position I I shown in Fig. 12 and releasedto occupythe semi-cylindrical recess l4 and maintained in the dottedline position H for engagement with the'edge of a beam or rafter asshown particularly in Fig. 5. Wherethe scale is used in effectingmeasurements and markings which do notrequire the maintenance of certainsections of engineers graduations. are. set forth more clearly inr Fig.-9.. The markingsinclude aperturespr recesses shownat .I9...extendingthrough or.- into the scale .sectionsuin precalculated positionsadapted' to. receive pintles which; project fromv diagonally oppositeendsof the extremities of the rule asindicatedat 20 and 21. in Fig. 9.;.The' pintles when engaged in. av selected. aperture: or recess .19 inthe scale sections serve to maintain the scale in theselectedfoldedposition to enable markings to.be made for the proper cutting oftherrafters, beams, risers, treads, or the backingv of a hip rafter. ,Inusing the folding rule of my inventionthere'is, little chance .of errorastl'le. cutting .line can be marked on either of the two equal sides ofa triangle which is formed byfoldr in'gthe'rule- When using acarpenterssquare, one'particular side must be .used formarkingout. In using thescale of my invention a longer short point. of cutcan be appliedoneither edge. of 1a, rafter on, turning it or moving it in differentpositions as with a square. I v 1 Markings for thelengths of the raftersare applied on the respective ends of the rule as represented at 22 and23 in Figs. 2-4 and in Fig. 9 thus eliminatingconfusion with othernumbers on the rule. Precalculated measurements are provided onv therule for all of the probable angular rises which will be encountered inconventional building construction; that is, th required angles for eachfoot of rise for rises of 4."; 6''; 8"; l0"; l2"; l6 and 18'f. I provideon the scale 24 a table which I have precalculated as follows y thescale against the edge of a beam or rafter,

Rise

4 inches Ginches 8inches 10 inches 12 inches 16 inches 18inches Lengthof hip and valley rafters= in inches to each foot of run. 7

the pintle II is oriented from a positionlnormal to they plane of thescale section to a position 4 1 At the otherend of the scale Iprovideatj25 a precalculated table reading as follows:

Rise

in inches 4 inches 6 inches 8 inches 10 inches 12 inches 18 inches 16inches coplanar with the scale section enabling the scale section tobereadily moved over the surface of the beam or rafterwith-theobstruction due to the otherwise projecting pintles.

The rule for laying out common rafters, jack rafters, hip and valleyrafters, beams, risers, treads and for backing of a hip rafter containsin addition to the graduations and markings applicable to the particularuse for which the calculated framing and folded rule of my invention hasbeen developed, an engineers scale containing graduations in hundredthsof a foot transposed to inches and fractions of an inch, or vice versa.The scale. also includes measurations respecting surfaces, volumes andareas of geometrical figures useful for rapid calculations 011113118building construction job where the rule of my invention may be used. Ihave designated these markings at 16 and I! in Figs. 2 and 9. The

scale graduations on one side of the scale have been designatedgenerally at I8. The special calibrations for determining the angularcuts of .rafters, beams, risers and treads which are arranged on theside of the rule opposite tothe The rule thus provides for angularmarkings for all of the conventional rises per footusually found inbuilding specifications and also provides means for interpolations ofany intermediate values.

The rule with the sections thereof folded in triangular relation forlaying out rafters, risers and treads and for the backing of a hiprafter is held on the exact riser and tread graduation vby the pintlesll moved to the position H illustrated in Fig. 12 and adjusted by thespacial position of'the runners or transversely extending strips 5 tolocate the scale in position such as represented in Fig. 5 for example.The pintles H are frictionally maintained in position under action ofcompression coil springs 9 are for all practical purposes locked inposition so that the rule may be taken off and applied to successiverafters without reassembly each time that a marking and cut'is to bemade on any job where the rise is uniform for a multiplicity of rafters.The angle of any out can be determinedand made. atany time on a buildingjob very quickly ;as heretofore explained. I The markings applimo' iand'iack raftersare' black and themarkingsi for hip and valley: raftersare. red and the dif-.

ferent ends 'of the scale are folded accordingly.

when applying the rule tothese different jobs)...

In laying out common and jack rafters it will be noted in Fig. 2 that anumber of apertures 01 recesses are provided in the coacting scale sec.-tion's. These holes or recesses are designatedat 26 where the holesorrecesses are marked with the letters C:-.T in black designating commonrafter-top cut and other apertures or recesses 21 designating C-B inblack for. common rafterb'ottomcut. Adjacent these letters I havedesignated by number the rise in inches. .For a practical example: Toobtain a top out for a common rafter with a 6 inch rise simply :foldrule. at second and fourth joints. then place the pintle 2|" attached toend of rule into hole marked C-T-S; a triangle with two equal: sides isformed. Either side can be used for marking correct rafter cut shown at28 in Fig. 2a.

For eifecting the bottom out shown on the rafter at 29 in Fig. 2a therule is applied by folding the scale sections as explained heretoforebut with the end of the rule having the pintle 2| inserted in the holeor aperture marked (2-34; in black. The bottom plate cut for the commonrafter is made by holding the rule as thu's arranged over the plumb markwhich is the same as the top out. The rule can be moved to give theamount desired for the plate cut.

A short method may be employed for making these markings and cuts byfolding the rule for the bottom out (C. 13.). The plumb cut; or top cut,can be made by holding the straight side of rule directly across thepiece and marking one side of the angle. With the same folding of therule, the bottom plate out can also be made by using it in thesameposition as Fig. 3; therefore, all cuts can be made by folding the'ruleone time only. This also applies to hip and valley rafters. exceptfor their side cuts. Y Fig. 9 shows the several sectionsand both ends ofrule, one end in black, the other in red giving lengths of common andhip rafters in inches to each foot of run for rise desired.

An example of the application of the rule is as follows: To obtainlength of rafter for and foot run with a 6 inch rise, find under 6 inchrise, the dimension 13.41 which is multiplied by a" giving 107.28" or107 /4 or 8'11'- /4 for length of rafters. Also, lengths of shortestjack on 16" and 24. centers are given.

For hip and valley rafters which are thesame length and get same cuts,and are obtained: by folding red end of, rule in same manner (second andfourth joints) as in Fig. 3, but the holes are marked in red H-T,designating hip and valley top out designated at 33' and II-B hip andvalley bottom out designated .at 34'. w

The backing bevel cut is obtained'by folding the rule for hip rafter,bottom out and using angleXinFig.3. V H

I have shown in Fig. 4 the manner of obtainingjack rafter side cuts. Forexample a jack rafter side out with an 8 rise is obtained by using samemethod asin Fig. 3, but with, rule 'folded at first and second joints,insteadof sectained in the same manner, by using hip and the section ofthe rule;

valleyside out markings in red on opposite. end ofrule; Fig. 5 shows-Vamethod used. for laying out stringers for Stairways, or. steps. Forexample; to obtain an.8" rise; and a 10" tread; use the same end of therule in the same mannento obtain common rafter top and bottom cuts, byfolding rule at second and fourth joints and inserting the pintle (onend of rule) into hole marked 7 which forms. the rule into a righttriangle, then fasten the slides l 1' the folded side or the, to numbermarked 8" onone side, and to nun) ber marked 9} on the other side, thenholding slides, '11 against. the edge of the stringer; cuttinfg markscan bema e for risers and treads,

Fig. Gsliows how any angle can be determin' d or cut, by folding therule at second and thi joints and holding the end of the rule on the de'greemarkings which are designated by red dots 35" found on the fifth andsixth section 2 of the rule;

In Fig. 1 1 I have shownthe manner of'ap plying the folding rule in thebacking of a hip rafter designated at 29.- Ih this arrangementthefolding sections of the rule are moved to posi; tions designated by "thespecified rise on the bottom out, The depth of the equal angles aregiven" the correct amount to be cut off of the plate 29 as designated at30 and 3l The total amount to be cut off of the plate 29' is designatedby the area 32 for properly shaping the hip rafter. This is accomplishedby latching pintle 20 of the scale into the designated hip rafteraperture or recess in the associated sections of the rule". I havedesignated in Fig. 14 typical dimensions for a hip rafter and have shownthe manner in which rapid cuts of the proper angularity may be effected.

I have found the folding s'cal'e of my invention with the specialmarkings thereon highly useful, practical and efficient in effectingproper angular outs on rafters, beams, risers, treads and in the backingof hip rafters, etc. While I have illustrated the scale of my inventionin one of its preferred embodiments and with certain preferredcalibrations thereon, I realize that modifications may be made and Idesire that it be understood thatno limitations upon my invention areintended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

I What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is as follows: V V

l". A .fo ldable rulezcomprising' a multiplicity of f oldableandunfol'dable latmable'v linear sections unfoldable' to.formip'redetermined polygonal figureshaving angular sides adapted tobe: registered with a work surface formar'king-and cutting the worksurface along prescribed linear marks, runiners engaged withzcertain ofthesections of the foldable' rule; eaolr :of .said runners including afrom said friction member and projecting through the side of saidrunner, a" pintle carried by the external end of said rod member andmeans carried by said runner for latchin'gsaid pintle in either ap'ositi'on 'extendingnormal' to the plane of the rule o'r a positionaligned with 2. A foldable rule astset forth in-cl'aim r i which a coilspring interposed between said friction member and the interior of theside of said runner and surrounds said rod member for yieldablymaintaining said pintle in a position adjacent the exterior of saidrunner and shiftable to either of the two positions thereof.

3. A slidable runner for a scale comprising a runner embracing the faceand opposite edges of a scale and apertured at one side thereof, aprojection carried by the side of said runner adjacent the aperturetherein, said projectionhaving semi-cylindrical recesses thereinextending linearly on axes substantially normal to each other, a rodmember extending through the aperture in the side of said runner andthrough said projection, a friction shoe carried by one end of said rodmember and engageable with the edge of the scale, spring meansinterposed between the rear face of said friction shoe and the inside ofsaid runner and surrounding said rod member and a pintle carried by theexternal end of said rod member and adapted to be seated selectively ineither of the semi-cylindrical recesses in said projection, said pintlewhen maintained in the semi-cylindrical recess normal to the plane ofsaid scale projecting beyond opposite faces of the scale for distancessufficient to form a grip with the edge of the work against which thescale is applied, while said pintle when yieldably maintained in therecess aligned with the edge of the scale is coplanar with the plane ofthe scale.

4. A runner for the sections of a multiple section foldable andunfoldable scale comprising a strip member slidably engageable with theface and opposite edges of a selected scale section, a projectionextending from one side of the runner, said projection including acruciform recess therein perforated at the center thereof, a rod memberextending through the perforation in said projection, a friction shoecarried by the interior end of said rod member and engageable with theedge of the scale, a pintle carried by the external end of said rodmember, spring means surrounding said rod member and interposed betweenthe interior side of said runner REFERENCES CITED The following.references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 775,951 Trout Nov. 29, 19041,114,134 Gustafson Oct. 20, 1914 1,521,980 Zook Jan. 6, 1925 2,487,457Marino Nov. 8, 1949

